Gaming executives worst nightmare:

[jack.jackson]

The best way to start a thesis on advantage play in the casino industry would be to recount a situation that I was involved with several years ago in Atlantic City. This situation involved a couple of key elements that facilitated this casino's vulnerability to advantage play. There was a dangerous combination, first being a knowledgeable player with the ability to observe casino functions and to find a legal method of exploiting a procedural weakness. This was then mixed with an under educated casino management that directed their attention toward the symptom of the problem and failed to address the problem itself. Fortunately, the situation was corrected before it cost a third party (a major playing card manufacturer) millions of dollars in lost and cancelled contracts. Unfortunately, the situation was not properly analyzed and over a three-month period the casino lost close to $1 million to the advantage player.

The incident occurred at a major Boardwalk property in the late 90's. The exact location is not important. However, the regulatory restrictions regarding blackjack procedures make it important for me to identify that it did happen in Atlantic City, New Jersey. What's important to remember is that Atlantic City gaming regulations (unlike many other regulated gaming jurisdictions) requires the casinos to deal to all players and can only prohibit play if the customer is intoxicated or disturbing the peace, is a confirmed problem (addicted) gambler, or is committing a fraudulent act. The games in question were eight deck blackjack tables located in the high limit room. The player was a well-known card counter with a lengthy reputation as an advantage player on the Jersey shores..........................Continued here............http://www.worldgameprotection.com/archive/2006-02/article.html

 

[21forme]

What I don't get is why they didn't limit his max bet. I've had my max limited to $50 when I was betting nowhere near table limit. Also, if they couldn't identify what he was doing, why not change the cards (and dealer and table) anyway?
BTW, the player involved has the initials T.H., yes?

 

[Brock Windsor]

Bra-Vo!

What a great new trick for the arsenal. If it's happened before, it will happen again.
BW

 

[sagefr0g]

this is an example of a real black swan in a casino. and someone savy enough to cook that bird too. lol. :cool2:
i've always wondered why the heck John May over on the blackjack yahoo forums was trying to find out information about how playing cards are manufactured and the substances involved. i'll bet ya he knew about this case and was looking into it.
not saying it was him (i think he's over in England usually). but apparently he knew about it.

 

[hawkeye]

That's just awesome. Simple observation, just beautiful.

 

[Bojack1]

this is an example of a real black swan in a casino. and someone savy enough to cook that bird too. lol. :cool2:
i've always wondered why the heck John May over on the blackjack yahoo forums was trying to find out information about how playing cards are manufactured and the substances involved. i'll bet ya he knew about this case and was looking into it.
not saying it was him (i think he's over in England usually). but apparently he knew about it.

Maybe, but the advantage had nothing to do with the make up of the cards, thats what the casino thought but they were wrong. He got his advantage out of the warp from the dealers having to repeat the peeking process so many times due to faulty peeking devices. When he cut the cards he would take his time and as the dealer relaxed the shoe he could see the cards and cut to what he wanted. It wouldn't matter what cards were used or how they were made.

 

[standard toaster]

wow that made me smile really it did

 

[N&B]

And it only got easier with the small pen %. The house shuffled too often allowing, ahem, clumps to form.

 

[sagefr0g]

Maybe, but the advantage had nothing to do with the make up of the cards, thats what the casino thought but they were wrong. He got his advantage out of the warp from the dealers having to repeat the peeking process so many times due to faulty peeking devices. When he cut the cards he would take his time and as the dealer relaxed the shoe he could see the cards and cut to what he wanted. It wouldn't matter what cards were used or how they were made.

is that what happened?
lmao!
i guess every good story has a twist an turn. i only read it half way through the article when the wife made me take her out on a dinner/shopping extravaganza.
so i posted my synopsis to soon lol and so now i know the rest of the story.

 

[jack.jackson]

Re-caping a walk down memory lane in Blackjack history.

 

[tribute]

url]http://www.worldgameprotection.com/archive/2006-02/article.html[/url]

The most entertaining story ever posted about advantage play! Particularly noteworthy is the last paragraph. Do you think this could happen outside of AC?

 

[Pro21]

No, I don't think it could happen anywhere again. As someone pointed out earlier they could have restricted him to a $25 max bet.

 

[bjcount]

No, I don't think it could happen anywhere again. As someone pointed out earlier they could have restricted him to a $25 max bet.

I think under the right conditions it may happen again in an unsuspecting location under the right conditions. It may not last as long or result in as large a win for the player, but I can see a similar event happening.

BJC

 

[FLASH1296]

"... they could have restricted him to a $25 max bet."

Just for the sake of clarity, what they actually do is this: Irrespective of the posted Min/Max bet sign; they place a sign on the table restricting (the Card Counter) to a $5 - $50 betting range - while informing the other players that the sign does not apply to them.

 

[shadroch]

You've never seen this done?

 

[Automatic Monkey]

You've never seen this done?

I've never seen it done in AC. Most significant heat I've ever gotten was having the cut card moved up to 2.5 decks. And this is at black chip level.

Maybe it's just the monkey thing that keeps them guessing.

 

[shadroch]

I've never seen it done in AC. Most significant heat I've ever gotten was having the cut card moved up to 2.5 decks. And this is at black chip level.

Maybe it's just the monkey thing that keeps them guessing.

If you'll reread the thread, this was in response to him playing anywhere but AC.

 

[tribute]

Nightmare

The key factor leading to the players success was due to the cards being in play all day and not switched to new cards until the day shift. He also had to be the only player at the table. He was not counting cards or hole-carding. It did not matter how many decks were cut off.

This makes me wonder if I could pull this off today. (I play mostly in Louisiana.) It would depend on:

1) How long do the cards remain in play?
2) Does the illuminated reader distort the cards after repeated use?
3) Can I find and keep an empty table?
4) If I actually could have success, how long will my wins be tolerated?

 

[tribute]

No, I don't think it could happen anywhere again. As someone pointed out earlier they could have restricted him to a $25 max bet.

Regardless of bet size, could similar conditions exist today in a casino, that would allow this to happen again? (I do understand that AC regulations played a part in the story.)

 

[Pro21]

The move could still be done today, but no one could win a million dollars doing it today. The casino would not allow it even if they had no idea what the player was doing.